The Microreactor Race Is On

Multiple private companies are racing to bring advanced nuclear reactor designs to market, with support from government programs.

Published on Feb. 25, 2026

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For decades, the development of advanced nuclear reactor designs in the U.S. has been stifled by bureaucratic regulations. However, that changed in 2025 when President Trump issued executive orders to reinvigorate the nuclear energy industry. Now, multiple private companies are racing to become the first to bring their advanced reactor designs to market, with support from government programs like the Department of Energy's Reactor Pilot Program and the Defense Department's Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) program. Texas has emerged as a major hub for these advanced nuclear projects, with state grants and research facilities supporting companies working on designs ranging from small modular reactors to microreactors.

Why it matters

The race to develop advanced nuclear reactor designs, including microreactors, could have significant implications for the future of energy production in the U.S. Smaller, more flexible reactor designs have the potential to provide reliable, carbon-free power to remote communities, military bases, and industrial sites, while also reducing the financial risks associated with large-scale nuclear projects. If successful, these advanced reactor technologies could help revitalize the U.S. nuclear industry and play a key role in the transition to a more sustainable energy future.

The details

The Department of Energy's Reactor Pilot Program has selected 10 companies to compete to reach criticality by July 4, 2026, the nation's 250th birthday. These companies include Aalo Atomics Inc., Antares Nuclear Inc., Atomic Alchemy Inc., Deep Fission Inc., Last Energy Inc., Oklo Inc. (two projects), Natura Resources LLC., Radiant Industries Inc., Terrestrial Energy Inc., and Valar Atomics Inc. The Defense Department's ANPI program has also selected eight companies to work on providing microreactors for U.S. military installations, with the Army's Janus Program aiming to bring a microreactor online at a U.S. military base by September 2028.

  • In May 2025, President Trump issued four executive orders aimed at reinvigorating the U.S. nuclear energy industry.
  • In April 2026, the DOD selected eight companies to work on providing microreactors for U.S. military installations.
  • In October 2026, the Army announced its Janus Program, which set a target date of September 2028 for bringing a microreactor online at a U.S. military base.
  • In July 2026, Last Energy plans to begin splitting atoms with its new 20-MW design, a version of the pressurized water reactors long used on U.S. Navy aircraft carriers.
  • Later in 2026, Radiant Energy plans to test its scalable Kaleidos 1 MW microreactor at Idaho National Laboratory.

The players

President Trump

The former U.S. president who issued executive orders in 2025 to reinvigorate the nuclear energy industry.

Department of Energy

The U.S. government agency that is running the Reactor Pilot Program, which is fast-tracking the testing of advanced reactor designs.

Department of Defense

The U.S. government agency that is running the Advanced Nuclear Power for Installations (ANPI) program, which is selecting companies to provide microreactors for military installations.

Texas Advanced Nuclear Energy Office

A newly created state office in Texas that is working to promote and develop advanced nuclear reactor projects.

Greg Abbott

The governor of Texas who spearheaded a $350 million state grant program for nuclear power research and development.

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What they’re saying

“If, she concluded, industry, government, investors, and civil society can build that kind of enabling environment, the potential is great for cost declines on the scale of what solar and wind have achieved. And nuclear has reliability advantages over both.”

— Jessica Lovering, Author of the report 'Right-Sizing Reactors: Balancing trade-offs between economies of scale and volume' (Nuclear Innovation Alliance)

What’s next

The Department of Energy's Reactor Pilot Program has set a goal of having at least three of the 11 projects reach criticality by July 4, 2026, the nation's 250th birthday celebration. Additionally, the Army's Janus Program has set a target date of September 2028 for bringing a microreactor online at a U.S. military base.

The takeaway

The race to develop advanced nuclear reactor designs, including microreactors, represents a significant shift in the U.S. nuclear industry. With support from government programs and state-level initiatives, private companies are now able to pursue innovative reactor technologies that could provide reliable, carbon-free power to a wide range of applications, from remote communities to military bases. If successful, these advanced nuclear projects could help revitalize the U.S. nuclear industry and play a crucial role in the transition to a more sustainable energy future.